MONTGOMERY – HRC Alabama, an advocacy group for LGBT rights, issued a statement on the Supreme Court’s ruling today. The ruling which affirmed the right of same-sex couple to marry has been waited on for a number of months since the Alabama Same Sex Marriage law was earlier upheld. Action on that ruling by the Court of Appeals was delayed until today’s directive from America’s highest court.
“This is a momentous day for the LGBT community, both here in Alabama and nationwide. After months of turmoil, justice has won out,” said HRC Alabama State Director Patricia Todd. “Couples in Alabama have waited too long for this day, and we call on Governor Bentley, Attorney General Strange and all officials in our state to ensure that this ruling is fully implemented at every level immediately.”
While this historic victory is a key step forward for achieving equal dreams in Alabama, the fight for full equality in the South is far from over. As we move forward, HRC Alabama will continue working to guarantee that the lived experience of LGBT people in Alabama does not suffer as a result of this ruling, but is made richer and more fulfilled.
HRC President Chad Griffin added, “Today’s ruling makes perfectly clear that there is no legal or moral justification for standing in the path of marriage equality. Couples from Mississippi to North Dakota to Texas shouldn’t have to wait even a moment longer to be treated equally under the law. But what’s clear today is that our work isn’t done until every discriminatory law in this nation is wiped away. The time has come in this country for comprehensive federal LGBT non-discrimination protections. We now have to work harder than ever before to make sure LGBT Americans cannot be fired, evicted or denied services simply on the basis of the marriage license that they fought so hard to achieve.”
